Stop mechanism for towel dispensers



Dec. 24, 1 957 I J. L. 2122! 2,817,563

STOP MECHANISM FOR TOWEL DISPENSERS Filed June 22, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 H II F/gfl 64 g Joseph L. 2722/ o INVENTOR, 5 BY @emaofi Dec. 24, 1957 J. L. ZlZZl 2,817,568

. STOP MECHANISM FOR TOWEL DISPENSERS Filed June 22, 1954 3 SheetsSheet 2 E as Fig. 3

'f 2/6 #4 L l lag 1.9 62 i Q 200 44 Q a I .4 4 r0 O F g I 6 J Q;

46 J 68 72 L as 90 Q 122 7g 8 //o 98' 2 E I74 Joseph L 2122/ IN VEN TOR.

United 2,817,568 STOP MECHANISM FOR TOWEL DISPENSERS Joseph L. Zizzi, Ufica, N. Y., assignor to Joseph Dal-man, Utica, N. Y.

Application June 22, 1954, Serial No. 438,389

8 Claims. (Cl. 312-38) proved continuous loop towel dispensing mechanism in g which are provided a pair of spaced side Wall members rigidly interconnected at three spaced points thereon by t assemblages which perform functions other than the interconnecting of the side walls.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improvement in the stop mechanism of a dispensing towel cabinet assembly which involves the use of a helical cam member and associated radial abutment member which make possible the mounting of a dashphot mechanism in an easily accessible yet out of the way position which does not detract from the space available for the operation and positioning of other mechanisms in the dispensing unit.

Another object and feature of this invention is the provision of an improved stop mechanism which includes a helical cam and a radial abutment member, the abutment member serving not only to periodically arrest dispensing movement of the internal part of the unit but also to properly reposition one of the working parts thereof.

Still another object of this invention is to provide improvements in the stop mechanism of a towel dispensing unit which includes a fixed smoothing plate serving in part to rigidify the side walls of the unit and a movable smoothing plate mounted for positioning toward and away from the fixed smoothing plate, the stop mechanism including a radical abutment member serving to periodically arrest concentric movement of the internal part of the unit and also to assure the positioning of the movable smoothing plate in a position closely adjacent to the fixed smoothing plate.

"Ihese together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section taken through the towel Figure 4 is a vertical section taken substantially along the plane of section line 4-4 in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view looking upwardly within the dispensing cabinet and showing the dispensing unit in bottom plan; p

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view showing details of the stop mechanism;

Figure 7 is an end elevational view of the dispensing unit;

Figure 8 is a perspective View of the combined cam A and abutment member;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the actuating lever;

Figure 10 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken substantially along the plane of section line 101t) in Figure 5 and showing the details of the internal construction of the dashpot mechanism;

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic sectional view showing the cam mechanism in one position of rotation and relating the free end of the actuating arm with respect 7 thereto; and

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11 but showing the actuating arm in engagement with the abutment member.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and most specifically at this point to Figure 1, reference numeral 10 indicates a dispensing cabinet assembly gena erally which includes the rear wall member 12, the side wall members 14 and a horizontal shelf 16 extending between and rigidly interconnecting the side walls 14. g The improved dispensing unit is indicated generally by" the reference character 18 and includes a pair of spaced side wall members 20 and 22 (see Figure 2) which are j rigidly interconnected at three spaced points by a mount- 4 ing bar member 24, a fixed smoothing plate 26 and a supporting bar 28.

As shown most clearly in Figure 4, the fixed smoothing plate 26 is provided at its opposite ends with mounting tab portions 30 which receive therethrough the fastening elements 32 by means of which the plate is fastened to and is rigidly interconnected to the side walls 20 and 22.

As will be seen most readily in Figure 2 and 3, both 'the mounting bar 24 and the support bar 28 are provided with reduced end portions 34 and 36 respectively which i are threaded and which project through the side wall members 20 and 22 and are provided thereon with the nut members 38 and 40.

dispensing cabinet showing the improved dispensing unit Suffice it to say at this point that the three members 24, 26 and 28 present the sole means for rigidly interconnecting the side Walls 20 and 22 although, as will be presently apparent, these member serve not only the interconnecting function but also other and important functions as well. Although the other functions: are not as yet set forth, it is well to note that the dual purposes of the elements 24, 26 and 28 form an important part of this invention since they serve, by their dual purpose functioning, to reduce the over-all number of parts required, present a neat and compact unit and. one which is extremely durable, rigid and economical in manufacture.

The side wall members 20 and 22 are provided with aligned pairs of bushing members 42 and 44 which rotatably receive axle members member 50 and a take-up roll member 52 respectively. The axle members 46 and 48 project through the side wall 29 and are provided adjacent the outer surface thereof with a pair of sprocket members 54 and 56 which receive an endless flexible chain element 58 therearound such that common and length rotation is imparted between the two roll members. Rigidly afiixed to the opposite end of the axle or journal shaft 46 adjacent the inner surface of the sidewall 22 by the reference character 60 which includes a generally Patented Dec. 24, 1957 p 46 and 48 of a feed roll is a cam element indicated generally,

of the wall 22 as by a plurality of rivets 70 or thelike and this bracket includes a'pairwof spaced parallelear members 72 and 74 receiving a'pivot ,pin 76 through their apertures by means of which an .a'ctuatinglever member 78 is pivotally secured therebetween. It willibe noted that the pin 76 is provided with aflat end portion 80 which, through its being flat, is too large to pass through the apertured ears 72 and 74 and which, by virtue of the bolt member 82 extending through a flange 84 of the mounting bracket and held thereon as by a nut member .86, is. prevented from being withdrawn from :the bracket earsr72 a-nd74-since the, inner or free endof the bolt 82 contacts: one of the, fiat surfaces vof theflat portion 480.

As seen most clearlyintFigure 9, theractuating lever 78 includes adnain strap or body portion 88 Whichhas one free end portion 9t0tadaptedito be disposed inthe, path of movement of :the helical rcam-=surface 6'4 and which has secured to one side thereof a strip of. material 92 deformedtin a portion 94 thereoftto receiverbetween the strap 88 and .thedeformed portion the pivot;pin.76 and which presents at the opposite end of the straprportion 88, amounting yokea-assembly 96. The yoke- 9.6,ineludes arlower flange portion: 98 having azpivotrstud I mounted thereonvand also includes retaining flange rportion .102 overlying the flange 98.

,Thetmanner of interconnection between thetstrap 88 and the-member 92 is by suitable fastening means-such astthetrivet 104, or the like.

As seen most clearly inzFigure 5, a dashpot assembly is indicatedtgenerally'by the reference character106 and mounted by suitable mechanism'hereinafter.described to the forward face of the fixed smoothing plate member26, the bottom flange portion thereof being indicatedv by-the reference character 108, and this 'dashpotror'retarding mechanism includes a pistonrodmenrbenllO having a flattened .end portion 112-provided with anl'aperture receiving the stud member 100 ion ,the;. lower .flange98 of theyoke assembly 96.

As seen most clearlyin Figure 210, thedashpot assembly -106-em'bodies a cylindrical:casing= member 114 closedattits opposite iendtbytthemcapJmembers 116 and 118,. the former of-which is provided with a central aperture through which sthe rpistonsrod ill 0 projects. 'The inner end of the piston rod is providedwit-h'a reduced threaded end-portion 120 WhichJcarries a resilient cup member .122 backed on opposite sides with the rigid washerzmembersrl24 and. 126 whichrare "held thereagainst under actionof the nut memberzl28and it is to beinoted thattthe coilspring -130is disposedconcentrically of the pistontrod2110 tbetweenthe washer'124and the end cap 116 t to normally position the cup 3122' -adjacent the end cap 118. IThus, the .actionof thercoil spring 130 also serves. to positionthe actuating lever 78 such that its free end 90 is disposed just'in' the :path of movement of the smaller end of the helical cam1portion 62.

Rotarymovement of the:roll 50 :andconsequently the cam-element 60 will pivot the actuating lever 78, by virtue of the configuration of. the cam base 64, in adirectionsuchras-to withdraw thepitman rod 110 and draw air into the. interior of thecylinder 114 through the bleed opening132. in the:end.cap 118.

The bleed opening 132 is partially threaded fromits openend as indieatedby the, reference character 134 and reeeive'dttherein is tonecendtof the threaded, adjusting bolt member 136 whichisprov-ided with alongitudinal slot 138so'as notto completely-block.the'bleed opening 132. The 3130112136 is provided :with. an enlarged pnarrow head portion 140 preventing .a .shoulder engaging :against :a resilient valve member 142: surrounding the bolt i136 and presented with the diametrically extending groove .144

in its end spoce which abuts the outerface of the end 'the end'90of'the actuating arm is justaboufto be disengaged from the widerzendportion .of the helical cam 62 and in Figure 12 the end portion of the actuating arm is shown in engagement with the abutment member 66, which operation prevents further movement of the roll -50, as will be readily apparent. Figure .12 .talso shows clearly the relationship .between theforwar'dand wider ends of the cam as wellvas thearelationship lOfrIhe cam surface 64 relative thereto.

When thepiston rod has beencornpletely'withdrawn, 'andthe end 90iof theractuatingyarm ror lever=is disengagedbythe cam 62,the tensionnofztheccoilzaspring will tend to return the piston and consequently the actuating arm to their normal positions. However, :a certain interval of time elapses betweentheitimezthei arm portion 90 is released, and the time .thatthe'armrportion 90 is, returned .to its normal .position inasmuch a'aszthe dashpot assembly will retard this action, .depending upon the presetting of the adjustabl bleed valve mechanism.

During the short period of time, the actuating leverfree end portion 90 will be disposed in the path of movement of the abutment member 66 and will of courseprevent further rotation of either of the rolls 50 or 52.

As is more .or less conventionaL'the rotation of the rolls 50 and 52'takes place as a result o'f a'downward pull on thetoweling portion 146 which issues throughthe frontwall of the cabinetas shown most clearly in Figure'l. j That is, the assemblage is conventional in'that a'clean toweling supply 148 is disposed within'the interior "ofthe cabinet and the toweling 150 issuing therefrom 'passes upwardly in contact with the feed roll 50,-over"the"pinch roll member 152 and then downwardly through the;pre.vi-

ously mentioned opening in the forward wall of'thefcabi- I net to prevent a'continuous'loop inasmuch as the 'soil'ed toweling .154passes upwardly through an opening 156 inthe'bottom wall of the cabinet past the fixed smoothing plate 26 and onto a take-up spool or spindle member 158. The pinch roll 152 is provide'd-withreduce'd opposite'end portions 160 which are'received in the inverted L'-shaped grooves 162' with the. side walls 20 and 22, and ithetakerup spindle for spool 158 islikewise "provided with reduced. opposite 'IEBHd'POItlOIlS 164 which 'arerotatably received inthe angulate'd notehes 166 extending'from the vupper edge of the plates 20 and '22, downwardlyand rearwafdly therefrom toward the take-up rollmember'52. Of course, the toweling 1'68 which'is wrapped about the spool member 158impartsrotationto the member1158 by virtueof its engagement with the take-up roll152.

The previously mentioned support rod or'bart28has rigidlyaffixed thereto an arcuate guard plate membertl70 Which'overlies a portion of the feed roll member 50 adjacent'the take-up'roll 52 and serves the purpose or ,pre-

venting any portion of the soiled towelingi1'6'8ffrom becoming entangled with the feed roll.

In cooperation with the fixed smoothing plate .26.is provided a swingable "or movable smoothing plate 172 hingedly mounted between the side walls '20 and 22 Jay means of pivot "bolt member 174 passing therethrough and it willbe readily apparentthat thelhinge'd smoothing plate normally cooperates 'with the fixed .smoothing .plate 26 in a manner to press 'orsmooth the soiled toweling therebetween prior to its disposition upon the soiled towel ing take-up supply 168.

The hinged moving plate 172 is normally held in its position mostly adjacent to the fixed smoothing plate 26 by virtue of the link member 176 and the bell crank member 178. The bell crank is provided with a lower end portion 180 having a laterally projecting car 182 thereon which projects through an arcuate slot 184 in the side wall 22 to lie behind an end portion of the smoothing plate 172. The bell crank is pivotally secured at substantially its mid-point to the outer surface of the side wall 22 as by a rivet or suitable pivot bolt member 186 and the upper end thereof is pivotally connected as by the element 188 to one end of the link 176.

This end of the link 176 is enlarged as at 190 to project beyond the upper end of the bell crank 178 and be engaged by a resilient spring finger 192 cantilevered on the L-shaped bracket member 194 as by a fastening element 196.

The opposite end of the link 176 projects laterally therefrom through an elongated slot or opening 198 in the side wall 22 and is provided on the opposite side or inner side of the wall 22 with an enlarged head portion 200 of greater dimension than the vertical height of the slot 198 such that this end of the link is guided thereby. The action of the spring finger 192 against the enlarged head portion 190 of the lever 176 is such that in the position shown in the drawings, which is the normal operating position of the hinged smoothing plate and its associated mechanism, the force of the spring 192 against the end 191) of the link is such as to be over-center with relation to the pivot point 186 of the bell crank 178 to resiliently urge the hinged smoothing plate into operative engagement with the fixed smoothing plate 26. However, during loading operation of the dispensing cabinet in which the operator will thread one end of the towel supply upwardly through the opening 156 in the bottom wall of the cabinet, the operator will swing the hinged smoothing plate 172 rearwardly away from the fixed smoothing plate to a position closely adjacent the rear wall 12 of the cabinet to permit passage of a hand thereby. Consequently, he may reach through the front of the cabinet with his other hand and grasp the free end of the toweling thus threaded to wrap it once or twice about the take-up spindle or spool 158. It would then be difficult for the operator to reposition the hinged smoothing plate 172, but in conventional towel dispensing assemblies, this is a necessary operation which is frequently neglected through oversight by the operator, so that the toweling is not properly positioned on the takeup spindle 158 during subsequent manipulation of the assembly.

However, the provision of the bell crank 178, the spring 192 and the link 176 makes manual repositioning of the hinged smoothing plate 172 unnecessary inasmuch as it will be readily apparent that when the hinged smoothing plate is in its position closely adjacent the rear wall 12 of the cabinet, the enlarged head 2% of the link 176 will be disposed in the path of movement of the abutment member 66, so that subsequent manipulation of the assembly will effect rearward movement of the link 175 and consequent automatic repositioning of the hinged smoothing plate. In this respect, it is to be noted that when the hinged smoothing plate is in the inoperative or rearwardly swung position, the engagement of the spring finger 192 against the end 190 of the link 176 is such and is so related with respect to the pivot point 186 of the bell crank 178 that an over-center relationship exists whereby the hinged smoothing plate will be positively retained in this position under action of the spring finger 192. Further in this respect, it is to be noted that the abutment member 66 engages the portion 200 of the link 176 for only a short distance of movement of the latter but for a sufiieieut interval that the link is moved to a position which reverses the over-center relationship ex- 6 isting when the hinged smoothing plate is in its rearwardly swung position whereby completion of the movement of the hinged plate into an operative engagement with the fixed smoothing plate 26 is effected by the spring finger 192 solely.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 5 and 10, it will be noted that the end cap 118 of the dashpot assembly 1116 is provided with a circumferentially extending groove 202 for the purpose of mounting; this assembly to permit suflicient movement thereof as required by the manipulation of the lever 78. The forward face of the fixed smoothing plate 26 is provided with a forwardly projecting bracket member 204 provided with a slot to receive the reduced portion of the cap 118 as defined by the groove 202, and a fastener 206 is threaded through the flange 208 of the end cap to project into an enlarged aperture in the bracket 204 to prevent c0mplete withdrawal of the assembly therefrom but to permit sufi'icient movement between the dashpot 1116 and the bracket 204 to allow proper operation of the actuating arm 78.

The purpose of the previously mentioned mounting bar 24 is to removably secured the unit 18 within the cabinet assembly 10 and for this purpose it will be seen that the rear wall 12 of the cabinet is provided with a mounting bracket member 210 which is provided at its upper edge with an offset vertical flange 212 presenting the trough for receiving the mounting bar 24 as shown most clearly in Figure 1. When properly positioned within the cabinet assembly 10, the dispensing unit 18 has its mounting bar 24 engaged with the bracket 210 in the manner shown and rests upon the horizontal shelf or wall 16 of the cabinet along a substantial extent of its lower edge portion. To properly locate the dispensing unit laterally within the cabinet, the forward edge portion of the wall or shelf 16 is provided with an upwardly deformed portion 214 which is just slightly less in width than the distance between the side walls 20 and 22 such that the side walls straddle this deformed portion of the shelf and properly locate the dispensing unit thereby. The lower forward corners of the side walls 20 and 22 are provided with outwardly, laterally projecting latch pin members 216, and latch hook members 218 carried by the shelf 16 are engaged therewith in the manner shown most clearly in Figure 3 to properly hold the dispensing unit 18 in place within the cabinet.

The particular positioning of the dashpot assembly herein shown and described in no way detracts from the available mounting space within the cabinet assembly inasmuch as the dashpot is disposed wholly within the confines of the dispensing unit and is not, as is conventional, disposed outwardly adjacent one side wall of the dispensing unit so as to detract from the overall usefulness of the dispensing cabinet and assembly. By this particular construction, an associated cabinet can be made smaller and more compact and, moreover, the individual dispensing unit is less susceptible to damage due to mishandling during shipment or the like.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a towel dispensing unit, a pair of generally rectangular, spaced side walls, a fixed, vertical smoothing plate rigidly interconnecting said side walls adjacent lower rear corners thereof, a feed roll journalled between said side walls adjacent the forward edges thereof, a take-up roll journalled between said side walls rearwardly of said feed roll, means drivingly connecting said rolls, a cam member rigidly connected to said feed roll adjacent one side wall, said cam'member' havinga'helical cam surface, an "actuating leverpivotally mounted intermediate its ends to the inner surface of said one side wall and having one end operatively associated with said cam, said cam member including a radial abutment member, saidone end of the actuating lever being normally disposed out of the path of movement of said abutment member and movable thereinto under influence of said cam surface, and a dashpot mountedon said fixed smoothing plate and connected to the other end of said actuating lever for-retarding movementof the actuating lever from'a position inthe path of movement of said abutment member to its normal position.

2. In a towel dispensing unit, a pair of substantially rectangular, spaced side walls, a'fixed, vertical smoothing plate rigidly interconnecting said sidewalls, a movable smoothing plate hingedly mounted between said side walls and movable between a first position spaced from thefixed smoothing plate and a second position closely adjacent thefixed smoothing plate, anabrasive roll member journalled between said side walls, said roll member being adapted to be rotated as toweling is dispensed from the unit, and stop means periodically arresting rotary movement of said roll member as toweling is dispensed, said stop means including mechanism for urging said movable'srnoothing plate from its first position to its second position.

,3. In a towel dispensing unit, a'pair of substantially rectangular, spaced'side walls, a fixed, vertical smoothing plate rigidly interconnecting said'side walls, a movable smoothing plate hingedly mounted between said sidewalls and movable between a first position spaced from the fixed smoothing plate and a second position closely adjacent the fixed smoothing plate,*an abrasive roll member journalled between said side walls, said roll member being adapted to berotated as toweling is dispensed from the unit, and stop means periodically arresting rotarymovement of said roll memberas toweling'is dispensed, said stop means including'mechanism for urging said movable smoothing plate from itsfirst position to its second position, anda dash potmounted on the forward face of 'said' fixed smoothing plate.

"4. In a towel'dispen sing'unit,"a'pair ofsubstantially rectangular, spaced sidewalls,'a fixed, verticalsmoothing plate rigidly interconnectingsaid side walls,- a movable smoothing plate. hingedly mounted betweensaidside walls and movable "between'a firstposition' spaced from the fixed 'smoothing'p'late and'a' second position closely adjacent t-he fixed smoothing plate, an-abrasive roll member journalled betweensaid side walls, s'aidroll member being adapted to'be rotated as toweling *is"dispen'sed from the unit, and*stopmeans periodicallyarresting rotary movement ofsaid'roll member as toweling is dispensed, said stopmeans incltiding"mechanism for urging said "movable smoothing platefrom its first position to its second position, and-a dashpotmounted on said fixed smoothing plate.

5. In a towel dispensing unit, a pair-"of substantially rectangular, space'd side walls,--a "fixed, vertical smoothing plate rigidly interconnecting said side walls, a movable smoothing plate hingeldly mounted between said side walls and movable betweena firstpositiomspaced from the fixed smoothing plate anda secondpositionclosely adjacent the fixed smoothing plate, anabrasiveroll 'memberjournalled betw'e'en saidside wallsfsaidrollmember being adapted to be rotated-as towelingis dispensed from'the unit, and 'stop means periodically arresting rotary movement of said roll member as toweling is-'dispensed, said' stop means including acarn elemenh rota'tablewith said'. roll member, an

8 abutment member rigid with said camelement, and a dashpot mounted on said fixed smoothing plate, and alink member engageable bysaid abutment member for urging said movable smoothing plate from its first position to its second position.

6. Ina toweldispensing unit, a pair ofsubstantially rectangular, spaced side walls, fixed, vertical smoothing plate rigidly interconnecting said side walls, a movable smoothingplate hingedly mounted between said side walls and movable between a first position spaced from the fixed smoothing plate and a second position closely adjacent the fixed smoothing plate, an abrasive roll member journalled between said side walls, said roll member being adapted to be rotated-as'toweling is dispensed from the unit, and stop means periodically arresting rotary movement of said roll member as toweling is dispensed, said stop means including a cam element rotatable with said rollmember, an abutment member rigid with said cam element, and a dashpot mounted on the forward face of said fixed smoothing plate, and a link member engageable by said abutment member for urging said movable smoothing plate from its first position to its second position.

7. In a towel dispensing unit, a pair of substantially rectangular,-spaced side Walls, afixed, vertical smoothing plate rigidly interconnecting said side Walls, a movable smoothing plate hingedly mounted between said side walls and movable between a first position spaced from the fixed smoothingplate and asecond position closely adjacent the fixed smoothing plate, afeed rolljournalled between said side walls adjacent the forwardedges thereof, a take-up roll journalled between said-side walls rearwardly of said feed roll, means drivingly connecting said rolls, and stop means periodically arresting rotary motion of said rolls-as toweling is dispensed, said stopmeans including alcam element rotatable with said roll memberyan abutment member rigid with said cam element, and a dashpot mounted on said fixed smoothing plate, and a link member engageable by said abutment member for urgingsaid movable smoothing plate from its first position to its'second position.

8. In a towel dispensing unit, a pair of substantially rectangular, spaced side walls, a fixed, vertical smoothing plate rigidly interconnecting said side walls, a movable smoothing plate hingedly mounted between said side walls and movable between a first'position spaced from the fixed smoothing plate and a second position closely adjacent the fixed smoothing plate, a feed roll journalled between said side walls adjacent the forward edges thereof, a take-up roll journalled'between said side walls rearwardly of said feed roll, means drivingly connecting-said. rolls, and stop means periodically arresting rotary motion of said rolls as toweling is dispensed, said stop means including a cam element rotatable with said roll member, an abutment member rigid with said cam element, and a "dashp'ot mounted onthe forward face of said fixed smoothing plate, and a link member engageable by said abutment member for urging said movable smoothing plate from its first position to its second position.

References Cited in the'file of. this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,756,840 Steiner Apr. 29,:1930 1,959,938 'Tyler May: 22, 1934 2,120,023 De Bersaques June 7,1938 2,172,482 Steiner et al :Sept.'12, 1939 2,274,155 Mustee Feb.. 24, 1942 2,289,093 Birr et al.- "July 7,1942 2,470,187 Price -May 17, 1949 

